The BJP suffered a major jolt on Monday when Panditrao Munde, elder brother of senior party leader Gopinath Munde, announced his plans to join the rival NCP.

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), on Tuesday, blamed the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leadership for engineering defections within the party. The BJP suffered a major jolt on Monday when Panditrao Munde, elder brother of senior party leader Gopinath Munde, announced his plans to join the rival NCP. There are reports that Panditrao's son and BJP legislator Dhanajay Munde is likely to follow suit.

"The NCP leadership has become proficient in creating dissensions within families and engineering defections. Such behaviour will not do any good for that party," state BJP president Sudhir Mungattiwar said. He threatened action against Dhananjay if he was found hobnobbing with the NCP.

Over the past month, the BJP has faced several cases of rebellion within its ranks. Recently, its senior corporator in Mumbai Pravin Chheda joined the Congress. Prakash Shendge, the party's legislator from Sangli, is also reportedly cosying up to the Congress.

Munde's nephew and BJP MLC Dhananjay Munde revolted against his uncle over the Parli Municipal Council and is playing the waiting game, expecting the party to expel him. "If Dhananjay wants to leave the party, he is more than welcome. But he should resign from his Council seat, which was given to him by the party," Mungattiwar said.

Meanwhile, deputy chief minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar shrugged off Gopinath Munde's accusations of 'breaking' his family and advised that he introspect instead of blaming others.